Getting to Know. . . ALICE PEACOCK
 by Kathy S-B  ·  7 July 2007

Chicago’s Alice Peacock is a songwriter who not only expresses herself exquisitely with her own lyrics but contributes her energy and enthusiasm to a program that encourages reading and promotes literacy across the country. Her latest recording is her third and it is a special one to her because it felt so natural during the recording process. Her favorite songwriting theme is pretty basic — relationships of all kinds: lovers, friends, family, God, the universe, and perhaps most importantly, with ourselves. Alice’s website is jam packed with all kinds of interesting information about her and her music and her important work with Rock for Reading.

Your new CD “Who I Am” was recorded lived in the studio. How did this compare to your previous recording experiences?

I think of every recording as a snapshot in time so they are all unique and special in their own way. Recording this last record was extra special because we really didn’t rehearse. My producer, Andrew Williams, wanted everyone to be fresh and to give us the best chance to capture that “magic” on the first couple of takes. All my vocals were live too as there is a real difference in my performance when I sing and play an instrument versus singing to pre-recorded tracks. Plus, it was just good fun to make music together the old fashioned way and I think it came through. Here’s a video clip of Alice singing the title song.

It sounds like you had an amazing time working with Andrew Williams. How did that relationship come about?

I met Andrew through a writing session that was set up by my publisher EMI. We wrote a great song together (Here I Go Again) and really clicked both musically and personally. I felt from the beginning that he got me as an artist and when it came time to choose producers, he was at the top of my list. I sent him enough songs to make 3 records and one of the songs in the batch “Time” really moved him. He called me the next day and said “that’s the record I want to make”. I knew right then we would make a great recording.

Is there a moment in time that you knew for certain that you were going to choose this profession?

I don’t know that you choose to be a singer/songwriter. I think it chooses you. I studied to be a theatre actor but as I got older, I discovered I wanted to be able to express myself through my own lyrics. Songwriting is therapy for me and the outlet is equal parts essential and creative. As my dear friend John Gorka said to me “thank god I can make a living doing this ‘cuz I don’t know what else I would do.”

You describe the “Who I Am” as a real “album experience.” That harkens back to days of old when many albums had a thematic focus that swept the listener into a focused audio experience. Do you have any recollections of special albums that resonated with you as a music fan?

Oh boy, there are so many. Obviously, Carole King’s Tapestry is at the top of the list and Joni’s “Blue” is perhaps my all time favorite. I could be lost with Joni for days. Any Neil Young album I owned was dog eared beyond belief. As I got a little older, I discovered Tom Waits who I think is an incredible lyricist and brings his characters to life with such an odd turn of the phrase. But I also have to include Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Steve Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life”.

You started an organization called “Rock for Reading” that is helping to fight illiteracy and renew an interest in reading. I’m an editor by day and I have to give you a great big round of applause. I’m sure that you find this work very rewarding. Can you tell us about some of the highlights of the program and of your involvement thus far?

I founded Rock For Reading four years ago with my husband and Paul Natkin who is a rock-and-roll photographer in Chicago. I had played Farm Aid several years before that and the idea had been percolating in my brain since then. We started by doing book drives in our neighborhood and eventually produced an all day music festival featuring 35 Chicago musicians. One thing led to another. We applied and received our non profit status, built a working and advisory board of directors, partnered with all the media outlets in Chicago and set out on defining our mission — to raise awareness and resources for grass roots literacy and reading organizations. We have a grant committee that evaluates programs through our on line application process; last year alone we supported 18 programs and gave away over $150,000. We have also started a book donation program, which is available online, called “Creating A Nation of Readers”. Publishers from all over the country have been signing up to participate. This year we will give away close to 100,000 new books to stand-alone organizations, in-class libraries and take-home programs. Some of the artists that have participated in our concerts include Lucinda Williams, Nickel Creek, Willy Porter and Steve Winwood. Can you say national tour anyone?!